Friday Fives + Exciting News!

{my photo}

Friday is here yet again (cheers!) and I couldn't be happier. The sun has been shining bright this week and the weather reached 80 yesterday. It felt so nice to wear shorts to class for the first time all year! Unfortunately the rain will come yet again this weekend, but at least I had the chance to spend some time in the sun while it lasted. I'm heading down to Seattle today to visit with my boyfriend and catch up with some friends I haven't seen in awhile - check out my Instagram to keep up with what's not always shared here! 

Before a share my five links, I have some (very) exciting news: I'm visiting NYC this July! My aunt, sister, and I are driving from Raleigh, and I couldn't be more excited. I've only ever been on the east coast once for a conference, but now I have the chance to experience some really amazing places! Though there's Yelp and whatnot, I'd love to hear what kind of recommendations you have for delicious restaurants, the best places to shop, tips on what to pack - I want to hear it all! Leave a comment down with your favorite spots + things to do!

Scallops are huge this year, bigger than before! This dress from Missguided is no exception - it even comes in pink.

Lately I've been resorting to Pinterest for some words of encouragement (and cute photos). My words board is constantly being pinned to and referred to - take a look!

The sunshine is the perfect excuse to pick up a new pair of sunnies. Madewell has this amazing pair in three great colors, though vintage stout would definitely be my pick.

Victoria at vmac+cheese published this post over a year ago with a free download for blog graphics! Pinterest led this to recently resurface and I couldn't be more thankful!

Birthdays are always fun to celebrate, but it's always fun to share gifts with loved ones year round! This birthday gift basket could easily be changed to an anniversary or "just because" gift - I love the idea of cute personalized baskets!

Happy weekend! I wish you all a fun, safe, and relaxing couple of days. Make sure you leave NYC recommendations - I'd love to hear from you!

Cheers!